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This presentation summarizes outcomes of the CUSP projects POLYRISK and PlasticsFatE according to thermoanalytical methods.It highlights the importants of analytical methods to measure physical and chemical properties of the test materials. These informations are neccessary for interpretation of the toxicological test results.
Der Vortrag wurde im Rahmen der Abschlusskonferenz des Forschungsschwerpunktes "Plastik in der Umwelt" des BMBF gehalten. Er fasst die Ergebnisse des Verbundprojektes RUSEKU zusammen. Es wurde die Herstellung verschiedener Testmaterialien für die Mikroplastik (MP) Analytik beschrieben. Im weiteren geht es um verschiedene Ansätze MP kostengünstig und schnell zu detektieren, z.B. mit Nahinfrarotspektroskopie. Nanoplastik konnte mit der Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie sichtbar gemacht werden. Für die praxisnahe Beprobung von Gewässern wurde die Fraktionierte Filtration entwickelt. Integrale Beprobungen können mit dem Sedimentationskasten erfolgen. Als Beispiele für die Beprobung realer Gewässer wurde das urbane Abwassersystem Kaiserslautern, Getränkewasser und Waschmaschinenwasser gezeigt.
Mikroplastik findet sich in Ozeanen, Seen, Flüssen und Bächen. Es kann in unserem Boden, in der Luft und sogar in Organismen nachgewiesen werden. Jedes Jahr werden weltweit Millionen Tonnen freigesetzt. Doch wo und wie landet Mikroplastik in der Umwelt? Und wie können wir diese winzigen Partikel nachweisen?
All over the world, microplastic (MP) particles (particle size: 1 - 1.000 µm) are found in water, soil, air, biota and even food products. But plenty of these discussed findings are based on a very low number of real datasets, which are extrapolated to general projections. Furthermore, most data are not comparable because the strategies for sampling, sample preparation and detection methods are not harmonised/ or standardised. This would require extensive proficiancy tests. Because of the ubiquity presence and the unclear risks, which might arise from those particles, various political and environmental organisations (i.e. OECD, UNEP, WHO) identify the reduction of plastic entry in the environment as a key challenge for now and the future. This challenge includes the identification of relevant entry pathways but also the demand of harmonised, meaningful and reliable analytical procedures.
Regarding this task within the last few years, a fast practical solution for MP analysis has been developed, which includes the steps of representative sampling, adequate sample preparation and fast detection. Sampling is done by fractional filtration over sieves with mesh sizes of 500, 100, 50 and 5 µm [1]. The received samples are measured by ThermoExtraction/Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) [1,2]. for the most abundant polymers used in practice, which are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA) and acrylate as well as styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR), a main component of tires.
The present presentation will give first-time insight in a comprehensive dataset of microplastic analysis for an exemplary urban sewage system. MP mass contents of different waters at several days, such as greywater, stormwater retention tank, influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) within an urban sewage system in Germany are determined. Furthermore, the mass of the polymers found in dry weather and rain weather flow are compared. The use of these large datasets allows first expressive conclusions regarding the contribution of urban sewage system to the MP entry sources in the environments.
We found PP and PS in all different waters. Furthermore, there is SBR in influent and also in effluent of the WWTP. Surprisingly, we could also detect hugh amounts of PE in the effluent of the WWTP.
Preliminary results of an interlaboratory comparison on microplastics organised by plasticsfate
(2023)
Microplastics are everywhere in the environment, but analytics is challenging. Since harmonisation is missing as well es suitable reference materials, BAM did under th umbrella of VAMAS funded by the EU Horizon 2020 project PlasticsFate a ILC for microplastic detection methods. Methods adressed were IR, Raman, Py-GC/MS and TED-GC/MS. The talk gives a first presentation and evaluation on the results.
The talk summarizes challenges in microplastic analysis. It shows the preparation of microplastic reference materials as well as the testing on homogeneity and stability. The reference material is used in an international laboratory comparison to compare different detection methods used for microplastic analysis. The methods used were µ-IR (FTIR+LDIR) for number-based methods and TED-GC/MS and Py-GC/MS for mass-based methods. The ILC was done under the umbrella of VAMAS TWA 45. Results of the participants are presented.
Mikroplastik Detektion mit Thermoanalytischen Methoden: Analytik, Referenzmaterial, Ringversuche
(2024)
Ich dem Vortrag geht es um die Vorstellung von thermoanalytischen Methoden für die Mikroplastik-Detektion. Verschiedene Kopplungsmöglichkeiten werden gezeigt und die Funktionsweise der TED-GC/MS wird erklärt. Im zweiten Teil werden Referenzmaterialien für die Mikroplastik-Analytik diskutiert. PET -Tabletten des PlasticTrace Projektes werden vorgestellt. Am Ende wird der VAMAS Ringversuch zur Mikroplastik-Detektion gezeigt.
Im Verbundprojekt RUSEKU wurde die Probenahme von Wasserproben entscheidend weiterentwickelt. Wichtig ist hierbei zu gewährleisten, dass genügend Merkmalsträger in jeder Probe untersucht werden. Es muss daher eine für den Probenahmeort repräsentative Beprobung hinsichtlich des Wasservolumens in Abhängigkeit der Partikelanzahl gewährleistet sein.
Das Hauptaugenmerk lag im vorliegenden Projekt auf einer praxisnahen Beprobungsstrategie. Es wurden verschiedene Konzepte ausprobiert.
• Grundsätzlich hat sich gezeigt, dass eine Stichprobe eine Momentaufnahme des MP-Massengehaltes zeigt. Es wird eine hohe Statistik, also eine Vielzahl an Messungen am gleichen Probenahmeort, benötigt, um eine valide Aussage über den MP-Gehalt zu machen.
• Es zeigt sich, dass eine integrale Probenahme über mehrere Wochen mit dem SK routinemäßig möglich ist. Die erfassten MP-Massen sind reproduzierbar und robust.
• Die DFZ ist für Stichproben geeignet. Partikel < 50 µm werden eventuell unterschätzt
• Die fraktionierte Filtration kann für Stich- und Mischproben direkt im Feld genutzt werden. Fraktionen von 10 und 5 µm werden später im Labor Vakuum filtriert. Es erfolgt eine Fraktionierung der Probe mit Siebmaschenweiten von 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10 und 5 µm.
• Die fraktionierte Filtration kann auch anschließend an die Beprobung mit dem SK zur Anwendung kommen. Wird die mit dem SK gewonnene Wasserprobe fraktioniert filtriert, kann neben einem MP-Gesamtgehalt auch eine Einschätzung über die Partikelgrößen gewonnen werden.
• Für Wässer mit geringen Partikelzahlen wurde ein Messfiltertiegel entwickelt. Dieser hat eine Maschenweite von 6 µm. Seine Anwendung kann mögliche Verluste beim Transferieren vom Probenahmetool zum Messgefäß und mögliche Kontaminationen reduzieren.
Die Optimierung der Probenahmestrategie wurde durch Modellversuche und Simulationen unterstützt. Modellversuche zum Sinkverhalten und Simulationen von MP in realen Gewässern verdeutlichten das komplexe Verhalten der Partikel. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass Partikel ab einer bestimmten Größe (und kleiner) bei genügend starker Turbulenz sich in der Wassersäule unabhängig von ihrer Dichte verhalten und so auch MP mit kleiner Dichte (z.B. PE) in der gesamten Wassersäule zu finden sind. Es konnte mit dem TEM die Existenz von NP gezeigt werden.
Ein wesentlicher Aspekt des RUSEKU Projektes war die Beprobung realer Kompartimente. Beprobt wurde neben Oberflächengewässern, das urbane Abwassersystem der Stadt Kaiserslautern, Waschmaschinenabwasser und Flaschenwasser.
• In Oberflächengewässern wurde hauptsächlich PE gefunden. Je nach Probe und Gewässer konnten auch PP, PS, PET, PA, SBR und Acrylate nachgewiesen werden.
• Im urbanen Abwassersystem der Stadt Kaiserslautern konnte an allen Probenahmestandorten MP nachgewiesen werden. Es wurde hauptsächlich PE, neben geringeren Mengen an PP, PS und SBR gefunden. Nach einem Regenereignis war der SBR Anteil deutlich erhöht.
• Die Beprobung eines realen Wäschepostens, bestehend aus T-Shirts und Hemden mit PA/CO oder PES/CO Mischgewebe, zeigte einen PA- und PES-Austrag im Waschwasser. Der überwiegende Teil der detektierten Fasern ist aber auf Baumwolle zurückzuführen. Reine gravimetrische Messungen zur Detektion von MP führen zu einer starken Überschätzung.
• In Flaschenwasser (PET-Flaschen) konnte MP detektiert werden. PET wurde nur im stillen Mineralwasser, nicht in Mineralwasser mit Kohlensäure gefunden werden. Teilweise wurde auch das MP-Material des Verschlusses im Wasser detektiert.
• Für Luftproben konnte ein Aufbau zur größenselektiven Beprobung getestet werden.
Neben der Probenahme hat das Projekt auch gezeigt, dass die TED-GC/MS geeignet für die MP-Detektion im Routinebetrieb ist. Die TED-GC/MS konnte weiter optimiert werden. Es wurden MP-Massen bestimmt.
Im Projekt wurden erste realitätsnahe Referenzmaterialien für die MP Detektion hergestellt. Die Herstellung von realitätsnahen Polymeren in ausreichender Homogenität und Menge hat sich als große Herausforderung herausgestellt.
Monitoring von Mikroplastik
(2021)
Zur Ermittlung von Mikroplastik-Gehalten in verschiedenen Umweltmatrices ist ein schnelles Detektionsverfahren für die Routineanalytik notwendig. Ein solches Verfahren wird hier in Form der ThermoExtraktion/Desorption-GasChromatographie/ MassenSpektroskopie (TED-GC/MS) vorgestellt. Neben grundlegenden verfahrensspezifischen Erläuterungen zur Identifizierung und Quantifizierung von Mikroplastik werden auch exemplarische Beispiele aus unterschiedlichen Umweltkompartimenten und Produkten dargestellt. Neu vorgestellt wird ein neues Verfahren zur Analytik von Flaschenwasser. Dazu wurde ein Messfiltertiegel entwickelt, der besonders für Proben mit geringen Gehalten an abfiltrierbaren Stoffen geeignet ist
In recent years, thermoextraction/desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) has been developed as a rapid detection method for the determination of microplastics (MP) mass contents in numerous environmentally relevant matrices and, in particular, for the measurement of polymers in water samples without time-consuming sample preparation. The TED-GC/MS method was applied to investigate a typical European municipal wastewater system for possible MP masses. Such investigations are important in view of the recent revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Four different representative sampling sites were selected: greywater (domestic wastewater without toilet), combined sewer, and influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). All samples were collected by fractional filtration. Filtration was carried out over mesh sizes of 500, 100, 50, and in some cases, 5 µm. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were detected in all samples, with the PE fraction dominating in all cases. Styrene-butadiene rubber which serves as an indication of tire abrasion, was only found in the influent of the WWTP. The highest MP mass contents were found in the combined sewer, so MP can become a source of pollution during heavy rain events when the capacity limits of the effluent are reached, and the polluted effluent is released uncontrolled into the environment. Based on the studies, MP retention from the WWTP could be estimated to be approximately 96%. Few trends in polymer type or mass contents were detected within the different fractions of the samples or when comparing samples to each other.
Zielsetzung des vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Projektes RUSEKU war es, repräsentative Untersuchungsstrategien für die Detektion von Mikroplastik mittels TED GC/MS in wässerigen Medien zu ermitteln. Dabei wurden verschiedene Probenahmekonzepte und – verfahren für unterschiedliche Fallgestaltungen und Fragestellungen untersucht, sowie neue Filtersysteme entwickelt. Bei der Detektion der Partikel lag der Fokus auf der Anwendung und Weiterentwicklung der ThermoExtraktion/Desorption-Gaschromatographie-Massenspektrometrie (TED-GC/MS) zur Bestimmung von Mikroplastikgehalten. Anwendung fanden die Methoden bei der Beprobung von Flaschenwasser, Waschmaschinenabläufen, dem urbanen Abwassersystem der Stadt Kaiserslautern, sowie in Oberflächengewässer.
Soil acts as a final sink for pollutants. Microplastics from different sources such as plastic mulching, littering, compost, sewage sludge, sedimentary deposition, and tyre abrasion are expected to be found in soil. However, representative and comprehensive information is missing on the sources, transport, and fate. Therefore, a reliable analysis method for microplastics in soils needs to be developed.
The presented work describes the development of a procedure for microplastics analysis in soils. A representative sampling based on the on-site conditions and a sample preparation method was established and comprised of a drying step, the separation of microplastic particles > 1 mm, and a density separation for particles < 1 mm. The detection of the large microplastic particles (> 1 mm) was conducted with Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier Transform infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) , while Thermal Extraction Desorption - Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was applied for particles < 1 mm, gaining information on the type of polymer and mass fraction. Based on the established method, 14 environmental soil samples ? with different exposure of microplastics from agriculture, industrial sites, roads, and floods were investigated.
Due to the arbitrary microplastic particle distribution among the samples for large microplastics, it was reasoned that the found particles were unrepresentative. In contrast, microplastic particles < 1 mm were discovered in a high mass in soil samples exposed to plastic mulching or fertilization with sewage sludge or compost (0 – 115 mg/kg). On average, microplastic contents detected in soil samples taken from a construction site and an inner-city lake were higher (13 – 238 mg/kg). As expected, microplastic content in soil sampled in proximity to roads was more pronounced in the upper soil layers. In contrast, very remote sampling sites, expectably uncontaminated, did not lead to the detection of microplastic regarding to thermoanalytical detection method.
In a proof of concept experiment several in vivo and in vitro ecotoxicological tests were applied to evaluate the effect of microplastics (tyre abrasion, polystyrene containing hexabromocyclododecane) in natural soils. In summary, while no effects of the examined probes could be detected on higher levels of biological organization after exposures to earthworm E. andrei, significant changes in several oxidative stress related biomarkers were observed.
Im Vortrag wird ein Messfiltertiegel als Zusatztool für die TED-GC/MS vorgestellt, welcher für die Probenaufbereitung von kleinen Partikelfrachten oder kleinen Partikelgrößen genutzt werden kann. Er ist Filtereinheit und Messtiegel in einem, wodurch Verluste bei der Überführung der Probe in das Messgefäß sowie Kontaminationen vermindert werden. Das beispiel ist hier die Filtration von Flaschenwasser mit anschließender Detektion mit der TED-GC/MS.
There is growing interest in quantifying microplastics in environmental samples. This application note presents a thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) method that is well suited to automation and increased sample throughput. The method is also able to detect all particle sizes in the sample as long as the limit of detection (LOD) is reached and allows analysis of larger samples of 15 to 25 mg or more. Samples were decomposed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the gaseous decomposition products were trapped on a solid-phase sorbent, followed by thermal desorption‑gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) using an Agilent 5977B GC/MSD coupled to an Agilent 7890B GC. Target microplastic particle (MP) polymers were identified in environmental samples including surface water, finished compost, house dust, and drinking water. Quantification of MP polymers in environmental samples provided LODs of 0.06 to 2.2 μg, allowing the detection of MPs in trace amounts with sample weights of up to 1 g. Method repeatability was adequate for reliable quantification with RSDs of approximately 6 to 12%.
Since microplastics (MPs) can be found everywhere and are becoming a problem of high concern, it is necessary to understand their occurrence and fate in the environment. However, to obtain data of high quality is very challenging, since measurement operating procedures differ from laboratory to laboratory. Currently, there are no standardized methods to analyze microplastics. One promissing possibility to adress standardization of the methodology and operating procedures are interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs). In this contribution we report the first results of an ILC on microplastic detection methods organized under the pre-stantdardisation plattform of VAMAS (www.vamas.org/twa45/) as Project 2 “Development of standardized methodologies for characterisation of microplastics with microscopy and spectroscopy methods”, within the Technical Working Area TWA 45 “Micro and Nano Plastics in the Environment”. The ILC has gathered 84 participants all over the world representing all continents. BAM, as the project leader, produced a set of reference microplastic materials, which have been distributed to all the participants together with the measurement protocols and reporting data templates.
This is the repository of all experimental raw data used in the Scientific Reports publication "Specific adsorption sites and conditions derived by thermal decomposition of activated carbons and adsorbed carbamazepine" by Daniel Dittmann, Paul Eisentraut, Caroline Goedecke, Yosri Wiesner, Martin Jekel, Aki Sebastian Ruhl, and Ulrike Braun.
It includes
- overview_measurements.xlsx and overview_measurements.ods containing a list of all TGA experiments (TGA, TGA-FTIR, TED-GC-MS, and ramp-kinetics)
- TED-GC-MS.zip containing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry experimtent files for the Chemstation and OpenChrom
- TGA.zip containing thermogravimetric analyses raw data on evolved gas analyses experiments (TGA-FTIR and TED-GC-MS)
- TGA_kinetics.zip containing thermogravimetric analyses raw data on decomposition kinetic experiments (ramp-kinetics)
- TGA-FTIR.zip containing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy series files for OMNIC
- XRF.zip containing x-ray flourescence data on elemental composition
Deuterated polystyrene (D-PS) improves microplastic detection with TED-GC / MS, among other things through higher reproducibility. It is inexpensive (0.1 ct / analysis) and can be dosed quickly and reproducibly thanks to its good solubility (e.g. in toluene). However, certain matrices lead to an exchange of the deuterium with hydrogen. The poster shows the measuring principle, in which matrices H/D-exchange takes place, the results of kinetic studies and ways of preventing or circumventing the H/D-exchange.
Die Thermo Extraktion Desorption Gas Chromatograpie Massen Spektrometrie (TED-GC/MS) ist ein schnelles thermoanalytisches Verfahren zur Bestimmung von Gehalten an Mikroplastik (MP). Die Kombination aus teils schwerflüchtigen Analyten und Kältebrücken führt zu Memory-Effekten, denen u.a. durch häufige Blindwertmessungen begegnet werden muss. Reduzierte Probedurchsätze sind die Folge. Um Messergebnisse abzusichern und den Gerätestatus bei gleichzeitig hoher Messleistung überwachen zu können, wurde die sequentielle Standardmethode überarbeitet.
Fast quantitative detection of microplastics using TED-GC/MS, an innovative thermoanalytical method
(2021)
In the talk, the BAM is introduced and the motivation for our engagement in the field of microplastic analysis is explained. The challenges in the analysis of microplastics are shown and how we deal with them. The working principle of TED-GC/MS and its performance parameters are presented, as well as the procedure for identifying and quantifying polymers in environmental samples. Interesting results are shown using selected examples. Finally, BAM's microplastic reference materials are highlighted.
Die große Herausforderung in der Detektion von Mikroplastik (MP)‑Partikeln (1-1000 µm) besteht darin, sie neben Millionen von natürlichen Partikeln in Umweltproben nachzuweisen. Zum Aufspüren von Senken, Eintragspfaden und für Monitoring-Kampagnen ist ein schnelles, automatisiertes Verfahren unerlässlich. Ein solches Verfahren wurde an der Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) mit der ThermoExtraktion/Desorption-Gaschromatographie-Massenspektrometrie (TED-GC/MS) in den letzten Jahren entwickelt.
This study reflects typical consumer textile washing behaviour while taking into account existing standards in the household appliance and garment industries. Two garments were washed repeatedly with artificial dirt and detergent 30 times. The collected washing water was separated using fractional filtration. Textile physical tests were used to follow property changes of the garments, the microplastic release is determined using thermoextraction/desorbtion–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the total organic carbon was measured as a sum parameter for the organic bonded carbon. This article shows the importance of a reality‐based approach when investigating microplastics of textile origin in the laundry care process. Deposits of detergent and dirt on the textiles were detected. The total mass of sieve residues was much higher than the release of synthetic polymers. The cotton content of the garments causes a much higher fibre release than synthetic fibres. Both will lead to false results by purely gravimetric analysis because nonpolymer fibres will be included microplastic mass. The results cannot be generalised only by the main polymer type, knowledge of the textile construction must be included for final evaluation.
Mit dem stetigen weltweiten Anstieg der Nachfrage nach Polymerprodukten nimmt auch die potenzielle Menge an Kunststoffabfällen in der Umwelt zu. Problematisch ist, dass viele der wirtschaftlich relevantesten Kunststoffe sehr lange brauchen, um in der Umwelt abzubauen, sich dort akkumulieren und in kritisch betrachtetes Makro- und Mikroplastik zu zerfallen. Auf der Grundlage des Vorsorgeprinzips fordert die Europäische Kommission daher die Entwicklung neuer polymerer Materialien, die diesem Problem der Persistenz entgegenwirken und unter natürlichen Umweltbedingungen schneller abgebaut werden können. 1,2
Um dieses Problem anzusprechen, wurden mittels additiver Fertigung Polymerblends aus photooxidationsempfindlichem Polystyrol (PS) und hydrolyseempfindlicher Polymilchsäure (PLA) hergestellt. Die Hypothese war, dass sich die beiden Thermoplaste aufgrund ihrer unterschiedlichen Abbauprozesse gegenseitig in ihrem Abbau unterstützen, wenn sie unter moderaten, realitätsnahen Umweltalterungsbedingungen (45 °C) abwechselnd der Photooxidation und Hydrolyse ausgesetzt werden.
In der Praxis zeigten die Ergebnisse, dass die Degradation von PLA durch die Anwesenheit von PS deutlich beschleunigt worden ist – wohingegen die Degradation von PS gehemmt wurde. In diesem Vortrag werden die detaillierten Ergebnisse der Oberflächen- (ATR-FTIR, REM) und Bulk-Analysen (DSC, TGA, FTIR-Transmission, TED-GC/MS) der Blends sowie ergänzende Mikroplastik-Ergebnisse des umgebenden Wassermediums (TED-GC/MS) erörtert.
As global demand for polymer products increases, so does the potential amount of leakage into the environment, known as macroplastic (> 1,000 µm) and microplastic particles (MP, 1 - 1,000 µm). To date, the environmental and health consequences are unclear and unpredictable, so robust MP monitoring data are needed to identify the sources, pathways and fate of these particles. Therefore, we developed the thermoanalytical method TED-GC/MS (thermal extraction desorption - gas chromatography/mass spectrometry), which uses polymer-specific thermal decomposition products for the detection of MP in environmental samples. It allows fast identification and the determination of MP mass contents, which is crucial for assessing of their potential effects and thus for legislation and monitoring.
For a better understanding of the TED-GC/MS, this presentation will provide the first methodological insights into systematic assessments of TED-GC/MS performance for MP detection in different environmental model matrices. Results of MP determination from real samples will underline the presentation and aspects of practical application will be addressed.
To harmonise the method, it is essential to assess different analytical performance parameters (e.g. recovery, signal quality or limit of detection, LOD) to ensure comparability of data. For this purpose, standard addition of different aquatic (e.g. suspended particulate matter, limnic sediment, activated sludge) and terrestrial samples (e.g. agricultural soil) were performed with non-biodegradable standard polymers (polyethylene, PE; polyethylene terephthalate, PET; polypropylene, PP; polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA; polystyrene, PS; styrene-butadiene rubber, SBR) as well as biodegradable polymers (polybutylene adipate terephthalate PBAT; polylactide, PLA) and analysed by TED-GC/MS. These results were then compared with the measurements of the neat polymers without matrix.
Following the recommendation of the European Chemicals Agency, on 25 September 2023 the European Commission passed a comprehensive new regulation to reduce emissions of microplastics (MP) into the environment, which includes the sale and use of intentionally added MP.1,2 This also applies to the application of synthetic rubber granulate infill in artificial turf systems and will ultimately have an impact on recreational sports. In Germany, rubber granulate made of ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber (EPDM) is currently predominantly used. So far, there is no sufficient database for estimating MP emissions from artificial turf pitches into the environment and thus their relevance as a source of MP pollution.3 This topic is controversially discussed due to the complexity of sampling and analytics. To close this research gap, this project has the goal to determine mass balances for the emissions of MP from artificial turf pitches to allow an estimation of the amount of MP released per artificial turf pitch and year.
Within this study, MP emissions of three artificial turf scenarios at different time states (unaged, artificially aged and real-time aged) are compared: the past (old turf: fossil based, synthetic infill), present (most commonly installed in Europe: fossil based, EPDM infill), and the future (turf with recycled gras fibres, no synthetic infill). To simulate the outdoor weathering during the lifespan of an artificial turf of approx. 15 years, brand-new artificial turf and EPDM rubber granulate were accelerated aged by means of UV weathering and mechanical stress. Potential MP emissions into surface and groundwater are simulated by lysimeter and shake experiments. MP mass contents are subsequently determined by Thermal Extraction Desorption Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Using special microfilter crucibles allows the estimation of the particle sizes of the emitted MP, which is a fundamental requirement for an assessment of potential health hazards for humans.
A fast method for microplastic detection is thermal extraction desorption‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED‐GC/MS), which uses polymer‐specific thermal decomposition products as marker compounds to determine polymer mass contents in environmental samples. So far, matrix impacts of different environmental matrices on TED‐GC/MS performance had not yet been assessed systematically. Therefore, three solid freshwater matrices representing different aquatic bodies with varying organic matter contents were spiked with a total of eight polymers. Additionally, for the first time, the two biodegradable polymers polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactide (PLA) were analysed using TED‐GC/MS. The methodological focus of this work was on detectability, quality of signal formation as well as realisation of quantification procedures and determination of the limit of detection (LOD) values. Overall, TED‐GC/MS allowed the unambiguous detection of the environmentally most relevant polymers analysed, even at low mass contents: 0.02 wt% for polystyrene (PS), 0.04 wt% for the tyre component styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and 0.2 wt% for polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and PBAT. Further, all obtained LOD values were increased in all matrices compared to the neat polymer without matrix. The LOD of the standard polymers were increased similarly (PS: 0.21–0.34 μg, SBR: 0.27–0.38 μg, PP: 0.32–0.36 μg, PMMA: 0.64–1.30 μg, PET: 0.90–1.37 μg, PE: 3.80–6.99 μg) and their decompositions by radical scission processes were not significantly influenced by the matrices. In contrast, matrixspecific LOD increases of both biodegradable polymers PBAT (LOD: 1.41–7.18 μg) and PLA (0.84–20.46 μg) were observed, probably due to their hetero‐functional character and interactions with the matrices. In conclusion, the TED‐GC/MS performance is not solely determined by the type of the polymers but also by the composition of the matrix.
It is of high priority to capture the extent of microplastics (MP) contamination for understanding its impact and consequences to our environment. However, due to a lack of standardized methods, MP analysis as well as its quality assurance, is still a challenge. The thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) as a novel innovative thermoanalytic method can detect MP particles in environmental samples based on their decomposition products. According to MP analysis, a distinctively larger polyethylene (PE) content in comparison to other synthetic polymers was detected in environmental samples. Various substances within the matrix which have a similar molecular structure to PE, like fats and oils, might interfere with its marker and lead to an overestimation. In this investigation an automated extraction method, the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), is introduced as quality control tool before TED-GC/MS measurement. Thereby, not the extract like usually used, but the solid filtrate is analyzed. The aim is to clean the environmental samples from solvent removable compounds which could lead to false positive signals and thus receive a more accurate PE mass. Consequently, a sample mimicking environmental samples with a defined matrix and a known polymer mass was generated. The common polymers polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and styrene-butadiene rubber, used as an indication for tire wear, were added to the matrix. Different parameters for ASE extraction were varied such as different solvents, filters and purge time. Finally, a PE recovery rate of 91 % after extraction could be reached.
Im der Präsentation werden, neben der Möglichkeit der Mikroplastikquantifizierung, auf weitere Anwendungsfelder der Methode TED-GC/MS eigegangen. Dies beinhaltet die Erfassung von Degradationsprodukten UV/O2 geschädigter Polymere und die Detektion von Additiven. Die Optimierung der Methode betreffend Messzeit und materialspezifischer Messanforderung sind ebenfalls Gegenstand.
The scientific and practical challenge of detecting microplastics (MPs) in the environment in a targeted and rapid manner is solved by innovative coupling of thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometric methods.
Fast identification and quantitative determination of most thermoplastic polymers and elastomers is possible by using thermal extraction Desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TED-GC–MS).
Inputs of plastic impurities into the environment via the application of fertilizers are regulated in Germany and the EU by means of ordinances. Robust and fast analytical methods are the basis of legal regulations. Currently, only macro- and large microplastic contents (>1 mm) are measured. Microplastics (1–1,000 µm), are not yet monitored. Thermal analytical methods are suitable for this purpose, which can determine the mass content and can also be operated fully automatically in routine mode. Thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) allows the identification of polymers and the determination of mass contents in solid samples from natural environments. In accordance with the German or European Commission (EC) Fertiliser Ordinance, composting plants should be monitored for microplastic particles with this method in the future. In this context a compost plant was sampled. At the end of the rotting process, the compost was sieved and separated in a coarse (>1 mm) and a fine fraction (<1 mm). The fine fraction was processed using density separation comparing NaCl and NaI as possible salt alternative and screened for microplastic masses by TED-GC/MS with additional validation and quality assurance experiments. With TED-GC/MS total microplastics mass contents of 1.1–3.0 μg/mg in finished compost could be detected with polyethylene mainly. What differs much to the total mass of plastics in the coarse fraction with up to 60 μg/mg, which were visually searched, identified via ATR-FTIR and gravimetrically weighted.
AbstractMicroplastics (MP) can be detected in all environmental systems. Marine and terrestrial aquatic systems, especially the transported suspended solids, have often been the focus of scientific investigations in the past. Sediments of aquatic river systems, on the other hand, were often ignored due to the time‐consuming sample preparation and analysis procedures. Spectroscopic measurement methods counting particle numbers are hardly suitable as detection methods, because there are plenty of natural particles next to a small number of MP particles. Integral methods, such as thermoanalytical methods are determining the particle mass independently of the inorganic components.In this study, a workflow for sample preparation via density separation and subsequent analysis by thermal extraction desorption‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is presented, which leads to representative and homogeneous samples and allows fast and robust MP mass content measurements suitable for routine analysis. Polymers were identified and quantified in all samples. Polyethylene and styrene‐butadiene rubber are the dominant polymers, besides polypropylene and polystyrene. Overall, total polymer masses between 1.18 and 337.0 µg/g could be determined. Highest MP concentrations in riverbed sediment are found in sites characterized by low flow velocities in harbors and reservoirs, while MP concentrations in sandy/gravelly bed sediments with higher flow velocities are small.